Technically, they all add 1 to either the W or L column. But the truth is, some losses are more damaging and some wins more empowering.

Penn State has had plenty of the former this season, heaping despair upon doubt. Coming to mind but certainly not alone are the blowing of an 18-point lead in the last 6:30 of regulation against Princeton and 1-point loss at Purdue. Both were gut-punch losses.

But last week against Nebraska, the Nittany Lions got an ugly home win that at least stabilized a listing team. And last night at Ohio State, they won a game that could turn out to be worth more than just 1.

That’s because nothing about it was easy. Even as Big Ten road games go, the Lions’ 71-70 overtime win was a grueling uphill hike. Win a game like this one and your guys start believing anything is possible.

Unlike the multiple occasions PSU has found ways to waste prosperity, this time they overcame a whole bunch of obstacles. To start with, there was precedent; No. 24-ranked Ohio State was working on an 18-game winning streak against the Lions.

But the odds became steeper as what looked like No. 19 wore on. With less than 8:00 left, OSU led by 11 and was pulling away. The Buckeyes benefitted from a huge foul disparity and were in the double-bonus early in the second half while Penn State never did gain the 1-and-1. Ohio State finished with 29 free throw attempts to PSU’s 9.

Even the method by which the Lions got back in the game was arduous. They climbed bit by bit with defensive stops and forays to the rim, even surviving five straight empty trips with OSU up 59-49.

Further, Penn State won because it got water from heretofore dry wells. Soph power forward Brandon Taylor ended a month-long slump by scoring 19 points including a pair of huge threes that brought the Lions back from the brink of losing touch. Freshman guard Graham Woodward began each half with 3-pointers to get the Nits off to rolling starts.

And 7-foot transfer Jordan Dickerson played 22 minutes and became the shot-blocking disrupter PSU needs. He was credited with 5 swats but the table might’ve missed a couple. Dickerson was very apparent around the Buckeye tin when the Lions endured that late dry spell that could’ve otherwise been fatal.

Finally, Penn State overcame one of the most inexplicable officiating calls I’ve ever seen anywhere. Mike Kitts, who plans to retire at the end of this season, questioned a correct out-of-bounds call on OSU’s Aaron Craft by No. 2 crew man Gene Steratore, the well-known NFL referee. In the League, Steratore is an alpha dog in the white cap. But here he deferred to his crew chief’s wish to look at a replay. And somehow, after two minutes studying crystal-clear video evidence that the well-positioned Steratore’s call was correct, Kitts overruled it and handed OSU the ball with the score tied 62-62 and :42 left. Craft driving scoop :08 later gave the hosts the lead.

It was the sort of late call that has consistently dogged Penn State this year and stood to kill a team that seems to sense the sky is falling anyway.

That wasn’t all. LaQuinton Ross’ banging of the rim with :27 left was ignored as Tim Frazier’s runner while fouled hit the glass. That should have been basket interference. And then, Frazier bricked both free throws.

But thanks to D.J. Newbill, none of that did kill the Lions. They endured like cock roaches.

Penn State coach Patrick Chambers shrewdly finessed the tremendous on-ball defense of Craft out of the game by stationing Frazier in the corner, compelling Craft to follow him. Then, he designed a great set play that mined an open trey for Newbill off a Woodward handoff that tied the game at :11 and eventually sent it to OT.

It’s worth noting that the defender lost on the switch was an aimlessly wandering Shannon Scott, a superior athlete who's never learned how to play much basketball. Scott’s signing ostensibly was the reason OSU coach Thad Matta passed on a Columbus kid you may have heard of. His name is Trey Burke.

Once in the extra period, Newbill took over. He hit a driving lay-in that kept the Lions within 70-69 at :45 of overtime. Then, with Craft guarding him on the final PSU possession, Newbill unleashed a lethal right-to-left crossover that broke the Buckeye guard’s ankles and opened ample clearance for a 15-foot elbow jumper that was all net. It is no small task to bust up Craft off the bounce, but Newbill did it.

What we have here as Penn State prepares to host Purdue on Super Sunday is a team and staff that stands to be energized, optimistic and ready to make whatever run they’re capable of. At 11-10 and 2-6 in the Big Ten, the Lions will have to go 6-4 from here out to enter the Big Ten tournament with any NCAA at-large hope.

But a win like last night’s tends to make hiking such a mountain seem plausible. The Lions cannot afford many more missteps. But, at least in the near-term, the hop in the steps they take should be there.